TeachingEnglish Lesson plans Much Ado About Nothing: Worksheet A Hero is jilted at the alter by Claudio. Benedick and Beatrice get married. Hero reveals her true identity. Hero s father, Leonato, pretends that Hero is dead to save her reputation. Don John is arrested for being deceptive. Don John pretends to make love to Hero. Claudio falls in love with Hero. Claudio agrees to marry Hero s mystery cousin. Claudio believes Hero has cheated on him. Claudio grieves for Hero. Claudio and Hero get married. Beatrice and Benedick secretly fall in love with each other. Extract 1 Beatrice and Benedick have yet to declare their love for each other. At this point in the story they are still being rude to each other. At a party Benedick is in disguise and pretends to be someone else. Beatrice is very rude about Benedick to his face. We don t know whether she knows if it is really Benedick or not. Here is Benedick s reaction to what she said. O, she misused me past the endurance of a block; an oak but with one green leaf on it would have answered her; my very visor began to assume life and scold with her: she told me, - not thinking I had been myself, - that I was the prince s jester; that I was duller than a great thaw; huddling jest upon jest with such impossible conveyance upon me, that I stood like a man at a mark, with a whole army shooting at me. Key words An oak tree Jester Jest Dull(er) Army To shoot
Extract 2 TeachingEnglish Lesson plans This scene takes place the day before Claudio and Herio s wedding. Don John is setting up his deception. He encourages Claudio to spy on Hero to witness her being unfaithful with Don John. (to ) (to DON PEDRO) What's the matter? Means your lordship to be married tomorrow? You know he does. I know not that, when he knows what I know. If there be any impediment, I pray you discover it. You may think I love you not. Let that appear hereafter, and aim better at me by that I now will manifest. For my brother, I think he holds you well, and in dearness of heart hath holp to effect your ensuing marriage surely suit ill spent and labour ill bestowed. Why, what's the matter? I came hither to tell you; and, circumstances shortened, for she has been too long a-talking of, the lady is disloyal. Who, Hero? Even she, Leonato's Hero, your Hero, every man's Hero. Disloyal? The word is too good to paint out her wickedness. I could say she were worse. Think you of a worse title, and I will fit her to it. Wonder not till further warrant. Go but with me tonight, you shall see her chamber window entered, even the night before her wedding day. If you love her then, tomorrow wed her. But it would better fit your honour to change your mind. May this be so? I will not think it. If you dare not trust that you see, confess not that you know. If you will follow me, I will show you enough, and when you have seen more and heard more, proceed accordingly. If I see anything tonight why I should not marry her, tomorrow in the congregation, where I should wed, there will I shame he. And as I wooed for thee to obtain her, I will join with thee to disgrace her.
TeachingEnglish Lesson plans Key-words and expressions What s the matter? Impediment Disloyal Wickedness Chamber Wedding To change your mind To dare To trust Congregation Shame To disgrace
Extract 3 TeachingEnglish Lesson plans This is the last scene of the play. Claudio still believes Hero is dead from the shame that his infidelity accusations caused her. He has promised to get married to Leonato s niece who is in fact Hero in disguise. Enter and, and two or three others BENEDICK Good morrow to this fair assembly. Good morrow, Prince; good morrow, Claudio. We here attend you. Are you yet determined today to marry with my brother's daughter? I'll hold my mind were she an Ethiope. Call her forth, brother. Here's the friar ready. Good morrow, Benedick. Why, what's the matter That you have such a February face, so full of frost, of storm and cloudiness? I think he thinks upon the savage bull. Tush, fear not, man. We'll tip thy horns with gold, and all Europa shall rejoice at thee as once Europa did at lusty Jove when he would play the noble beast in love. Bull Jove, sir, had an amiable low, and some such strange bull leapt your father's cow and got a calf in that same noble feat. Much like to you, for you have just his bleat. For this I owe you. Here comes other reck'nings. Enter ANTONIO,HERO, BEATRICE,MARGARET, URSULA, the ladies masked (to HERO) HERO HERO FRIAR FRANCIS Which is the lady I must seize upon? This same is she, and I do give you her. Why, then she's mine. Sweet, let me see your face. No, that you shall not till you take her hand before this friar and swear to marry her. Give me your hand before this holy friar. I am your husband, if you like of me. And when I lived, I was your other wife, and when you loved, you were my other husband. (She unmasks) Another Hero! Nothing certainer. One Hero died defiled, but I do live, and surely as I live, I am a maid. The former Hero! Hero that is dead! She died, my lord, but whiles her slander lived. All this amazement can I qualify. When after that the holy rites are ended I'll tell you largely of fair Hero's death. Meantime let wonder seem familiar, and to the chapel let us presently.
TeachingEnglish Lesson plans Key-words and expressions Frost Storm Cloudiness I owe you To swear to do something Former Slander The chapel
TeachingEnglish Lesson plans Worksheet B Famous Quotes 1. Find these quotes in the play. 2. What scene are they in? 3. Who says them and to whom? 4. What do they mean? "I would my horse had the speed of your tongue " He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man. there was a star danced, and under that was I born. Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, Men were deceivers ever, One foot in sea and one on shore, To one thing constant never.
Worksheet C Match the Shakespeare text to the modern translation. TeachingEnglish Lesson plans 1. When I do name him, let it be thy part to praise him more than ever man did merit: a. You have ruined my innocent daughter. Your slander has broken her heart and killed her. 2. Then go we near her, that her ear lose nothing of the false sweet bait that we lay for it. b. She s so in love with herself she doesn t even know what love is. 3. She cannot love, nor take no shapenor project of affection, she is so selfendeared. c. Then let s get closer so that she can overhear what we re saying and take the bait 4. I pray thee, cease thy counsel, which falls into mine ears as profitless as water in a sieve: d. When I mention his name you need to say what a great person he is. 5. I say, thou hast belied mine innocent child; Thy slander hath gone through and through her heart, And she lies buried with her ancestors. e. Please stop giving me advice. I m not listening to you.
TeachingEnglish Lesson plans